Tara bites her lip as she glances at Buffy in the far corner of the cab, her arms over her chest, glaring at her. “I didn’t tell you to sit over there, honey.”
“No, but I’m not putting on a damn show, either.” Buffy tilts her head towards the cab driver, who had about wrecked when he’d been watching them making out in the back seat instead of paying attention to the traffic.
Tara chuckles and blushes as she nods her head. Tara looks out the window at the passing countryside having left London a little while ago. “Arriving in one piece would be of the good, too.” Tara whispers so only Buffy can hear, chuckling at Buffy’s agreeing grunt.
Buffy licks her lips as she relaxes, looking over the Wiccan’s form. Having to silently admit that the intervening time had been good to the Wiccan. Tara having aged, and if possible, having become more beautiful over the intervening years. The dark blonde hair pulled back in a long braid, in what Buffy’s come to realize is her normal hair-do. Realizing the long hair probably gets in the way otherwise. Eyes darkening slightly at the thought of that long, soft hair blanketing her, Buffy tears her gaze away from Tara, realizing if she keeps this up, she will literally pounce on the woman as soon as they arrive at the Townhouse. Wanting to go straight to the cottage, but knowing Giles will have a fit if she doesn’t check in.
Tara smiles softly as she glances back at Buffy, seeing the slayer seems lost in thought. Eyes glinting with mischief, Tara’s lips curl up in a wicked grin as she sends an explicit picture montage of the slayer being plastered against a wall, spread eagle as she slowly works her way down her body. Chuckling loudly as Buffy’s eyes fill with desire and her body jerks in imagined pleasure
“You are going to pay for that.” Buffy warns softly, seeing they are about to turn into the driveway to the Townhouse. As the cab pulls to a stop in front of the Townhouse, Buffy throws cash at the driver before she hops out of the cab, quickly pulling their bags out of the back, setting them on the side of the driveway as Tara eases out of the cab, shutting the door gently behind her as the cab driver pulls away.
Tara tilts her head, seeing the desire burning brightly in Buffy’s eyes, even as the slayer quickly closes the distance between them, softly crying out the slayer’s name as Buffy gather’s her in her arms, picking her up to walk up the steps to the house, pressing her against the outside of the building, beside the front door as her mouth is invaded by Buffy’s eager tongue.
Growling deeply, Buffy runs her hands down to Tara’s butt, urging the Wiccan’s legs around her waist as she presses in tight against Tara, allowing her fingers to dig into the witch’s butt cheeks as she battles strongly against Tara’s tongue, grunting as Tara captures her tongue and sucks strongly on the muscle.
“I thought I heard a door shut…” Willow starts off, looking behind her to Giles and Kennedy before turning her gaze to Buffy practically attacking a… woman. “Oh, my Goddess.” Willow’s eyes open wide in shock.
Kennedy smirks as she looks over her lover’s shoulder at Buffy getting it on with another woman, admitting she can’t see much of the dark-haired blonde Buffy has pinned against the building, but the woman was obviously built nice.
“Dear Lord…” Giles eyes open wide in shock as he realizes that Buffy’s attacking Tara outside the Townhouse. Not knowing of this particular development, Giles tries to step between the two women and Willow, to block her sight. The redhead and slayer had shown up roughly an hour earlier with no forewarning, to his surprise and consternation. “Umm. Maybe we should go inside?” Giles tries to urge the unmoving witch into the townhouse.
“Buffy! I wasn’t aware of you…” Willow stops and waves her hands around, shocked at the sight of Buffy making out intently with a woman.
Buffy’s mind is on the woman she’s wishing she could burrow inside, her hands grasping her thighs firmly until Tara’s stiffening against her and ending the kiss makes her realize what’s going on. Hearing Willow’s words, Buffy whimpers quietly, easing the hand up that’s on Willow’s side, Buffy cups Tara’s cheek as she eases her face away slightly to see Tara. Seeing the worry and slightly scared look in the blue eyes looking back at her, Buffy sighs. “I didn’t know she was going to be here, or we would have gone to my cottage instead.” Buffy explains, her eyes searching Tara’s, seeing the acknowledgement and understanding coming across Tara’s eyes. “Willow and Kennedy can you guys head into the house, we’ll follow in a few minutes?”
“But…” Willow starts, before Kennedy gently urges her into the house.
Sighing in relief as she watches Kennedy and Willow head back into the house, Buffy looks into the shocked eyes of her Watcher. “When did they get here?”
“About an hour ago.” Giles admits quietly, watching as Buffy gently sets Tara down on her feet, slowly easing away from the woman a couple inches. Giles can’t help but look at the woman that at one time had meant so much to the group. Noticing the slight signs of aging and the longer hair but also seeing a strong sense of worth and strength that was only hinted at before. None of the young, insecure woman left in the woman staring back at him, though he does see a hint of worry and pain in blue eyes staring at him. “I… Lord, it is good to see you.” Giles finally admits softly, smiling as Tara laughs quietly and hugs him.
“So, I take it that she doesn’t know I’m alive?” Tara questions quietly after easing back from the Watcher, smiling softly at the man she had considered her father.
“I dare say no.” Giles admits, looking from Buffy to Tara and back. “You have some serious explaining to do. I think you might have left out some information in your phone calls.”
Buffy shrugs, and smirks at the Watcher. “I wanted to tell you in person, but I wasn’t expecting the additional surprise.” Buffy’s eyes unconsciously shift to look to the doorway. Turning back to Tara, Buffy sighs quietly. “I can have Giles take you to my cottage, if you want to wait to deal with this?”
Tara searches Buffy’s eyes, silently questioning the slayer as to how she wants to handle it.
“It’s going to be a shock to her, in more ways than one, Tara.” Buffy points out quietly. “I don’t know if it would be easier on her to let her know that you are alive, and let that settle before telling her about us or just tell her all at once.”
“I think the second option has been taken from us, Buffy.” Tara points out quietly, seeing the silent agreement in Buffy’s eyes. Taking a deep breath she looks at Giles. “What do you suggest, Mr. Giles?”
Giles runs a worried hand through his hair and shakes his head. “I don’t see this as going well any way it happens, to tell you the truth. She was devastated when you died, my dear. And now to find out you’ve been alive and had run away from her… To only come back and are with…” Giles waves his hand towards Buffy, knowing from the display that there would be no denying Tara and Buffy are definitely a couple.
“Can you give us a few minutes to talk?” Buffy questions quietly, looking at the Watcher.
Giles looks into the Townhouse, not seeing either Kennedy or Willow, he nods his head. “Do you want to come in? Maybe we can sneak you into a room to talk and plan?”
Tara shrugs her shoulders and looks at Buffy. “Honey, no matter how we discuss it or talk about it, it’s going to be a serious shock to her. I don’t think there’s really a good way to break it to her, especially now. Let’s go ahead and get past this hurdle.”
Buffy inhales deeply, exhaling a hot breath looking at Tara for a few minutes. Leaning in she softly presses her lips against Tara’s. “If it gets too bad, we’ll run to my cottage to get away for a while.”
Tara chuckles quietly at her lover, seeing some of the old Buffy coming through at the running away comment. “I love you, Buffy. Nothing will change that.”
“I love you, too.” Buffy presses another quick kiss to Tara’s kiss swollen lips, having to smirk at the sight. “Inside.” Buffy finally nods her head before turning to grab their bags, allowing Giles to lead the way, Tara following him and her bringing up the rear.
***
Buffy sets down their bags outside the drawing room, turning again to look at an obviously nervous Tara, Giles having mumbled something about waiting a few minutes before he hurried away. Buffy reaches up to stroke a hand gently down Tara’s cheek. “Let’s get your jacket off, honey.” Buffy murmurs quietly, helping Tara out of the jacket, laying it over their bags before taking her own off.
Tara rubs a lightly shaking hand over the back of her neck. Knowing this time was going to come sooner or later, however she was thinking it would be later. Much later. And hopefully long distance, instead of in person. Smiling softly as Buffy’s arms gently wrap around her and hug her, Tara leans back into the slayer. Looking up as Giles comes in carrying a tray with tea and biscuits on it, Tara has to chuckle at the man. “Time to own up to the past.” Tara finally whispers, letting Buffy thread their fingers together as the slayer releases her and comes to stand beside her.
Buffy takes a calming breath and nods, following Giles into the drawing room, her eyes connecting with Kennedy’s, knowing the other slayer had heard what they had discussed out in the foyer, and possibly outside.
“What is going on…” Willow starts, her eyes going from Buffy to the woman beside her, unconsciously stepping back, feeling her legs weaken in shock and her eyes staring in disbelief at the sight of the woman she’d held in her arms as she’d died. “No…” Willow shakes her head, a shot of fear shooting through her. “Get away from her, Buffy. It’s The First.”
“It isn’t The First, Willow.” Buffy gently squeezes Tara’s hand, sighing quietly as Tara mentally sends her the message to go to her best friend. Releasing Tara’s hand, Buffy strides towards Willow, wrapping the stricken woman in her arms, hugging her tightly before talking calmly. “It’s Tara, Willow. The woman that died wasn’t her. Just think about it for a moment…” Buffy trails off as Willow tries to fight against her. “Willow don’t!”
Kennedy looks in confusion at the women, never having seen the woman that seems to be causing her partner an inordinate amount of distress. Closing the short distance, Kennedy gently tugs Buffy back before wrapping her lover in her arms, stroking her hands gently down the shaking, tense back.
Buffy looks at Willow for a few minutes, before continuing. “Think, Willow. Don’t you think if The First could have impersonated her in Sunnydale that he would have? My God, you almost went off the deep end when Amy did the spell on you, making you Warren! Don’t you think if he had shown himself as her, he would have known he would have won? He couldn’t, Willow! He couldn’t impersonate her, because she NEVER died.”
Tara slowly approaches, glancing quickly at Giles who’s silently watching the interaction, knowing the man is worried about Willow, but not wanting to say something to make things worse. Easing behind Buffy, Tara gently places a hand on the slayer’s shoulder. Tara takes in the sight of the dark-haired, dark-eyed slayer staring at her with barely concealed hatred. Shaking her head at the undeserved hatred coming at her from that quadrant, Tara dismisses the slayer for now, before looking at Willow. “I went to Canada two days after I moved out, Willow. Roughly a month later I went to Sweden. I’ve been living in a Coven in Sweden since then.”
“You’re not her!” Willow hisses her eyes angry as she stares into familiar blue eyes, not wanting to believe that Tara was alive after all this time.
“How would you like me to prove it, Willow?” Tara sighs quietly, seeing the lack of trust and the pain in Willow’s green eyes. “Because, honestly, if the other me had all the same memories, I don’t think there will be a way for me to prove it to you that way.”
Willow stiffens and pushes Kennedy from her, stepping up to Tara, staring into the woman’s eyes. “You are not her. She died in my arms seven years ago, shot through the heart by a murdering bastard.” Willow storms by the woman, quickly leaving the room.
Kennedy hesitates for a minute, looking over the woman, realizing who she is. “I just have this to say, if you really are her, I’m gonna kick your ass for the hell you put Willow through, then I’m going to send you back to whatever place you came from because you aren’t getting her back.”
“You will NOT lay a finger on Tara.” Buffy growls stepping between Tara and Kennedy, poking a stiff finger into the other slayer’s chest, smirking at the wince of pain she receives. “If you do, I’ll rip you limb from limb, you understand me?”
“You can’t threaten me.” Kennedy growls back into the other slayer’s face.
“I’m not threatening you.” Buffy snarls, grabbing the slayer and lifting her off the ground shaking her. “It’s a fucking promise. You may be a slayer now, Kennedy, but I can still wipe the fucking floor with your ass. Be sure to remember that.” Buffy growls as she tosses the woman towards the doorway.
Giles settles in a chair, rubbing his forehead as a headache starts to pound behind his eyes. “There may be a way to prove to them that Tara is really Tara.” He finally offers quietly, looking up at Tara gently rubbing Buffy’s back as the slayer stares, the anger obvious in her stance.
“I don’t think anything will make them believe.” Tara admits quietly, shaking her head. “You’re more than welcome to try, if you want, but…” Tara shrugs, before grunting quietly as Buffy turns and wraps her arms around her tightly.
“We’re going to my house. I’m not dealing with their shit. And Tara doesn’t deserve them threatening her and treating her like yesterdays leftovers.” Buffy finally buries her face in Tara’s neck. “I’m sorry, Tara. This wasn’t exactly the homecoming I was planning.”
Tara smiles softly and hugs Buffy gently. “I know, honey. Give her time, maybe she’ll start thinking about it and realize that you’re telling the truth. It’s a major shock, sweetie. She’s thought for the last seven years that I was dead.”
“So did I. But I didn’t go through all this.” Buffy mumbles, brushing a soft kiss on Tara’s neck.
“No, surprisingly enough, you were easily swayed into believing I was me.” Tara smiles as Buffy eases back a short distance.
“It makes too much sense. The First never being able to impersonate you. What Willow had done to you, you felt like you didn’t have any choice in the matter, but to leave. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you went to move out. Maybe things would be different.” Buffy whispers, her eyes sad.
“Shh. Nothing to change, honey. I like being here with you. If I had stayed, who knows, it might have been me that got shot.” Tara points out softly, her eyes sad. “Too many ifs, buts and possibilities, Buffy. We just need to go forward with what we have now.” Tara smiles sadly at Buffy. Turning her gaze to Giles, Tara shrugs her shoulders. “Whatever testing you wish to do, I’m there for it, Mr. Giles. Concrete proof is something that quite a few people may want.”
Giles nods his head understandingly at the woman. “I’ve actually been in contact with the Coven in Devon. They have different spells along with a crystal that in conjunction with some blood and an incantation will make sure you are human, and not a ‘fake’, for lack of a better word.” Giles smiles at the woman, knowing in his heart that she is the young woman she claims, but appreciating the fact that she’s more than willing to prove it.
“Maybe you can arrange for a couple of their members to come here and do the spell with Willow and Kennedy watching, that way they don’t think someone might have sabotaged it.” Tara suggests softly, before turning her gaze to Buffy. “Perhaps the sooner, the better.”
“I’ll call them and see when they can get someone over here.” Giles nods in agreement.
“Upstairs or my place?” Buffy questions as she looks at Tara.
“How far is your place from here?” Tara smiles tremulously, traveling and the shock of what happened earlier starting to take its toll.
“It’s a mile away. I can have Giles drive us, if you want.” Buffy offers softly, searching Tara’s eyes, hugging her gently as she gets a quick nod of acquiesce.
“I’m sorry that things weren’t what you were expecting.” Giles murmurs softly as he leads the way out of the room, going to pick up the women’s bags, before Buffy gently smacks his hands away.
“Slayer, Giles, remember?” Buffy points out as she easily lifts the items after Tara takes their jackets. Slowly the two women follow Giles through the house out the back to the car parked behind the Townhouse. Settling their bags in the trunk after Giles opens it, Buffy walks around and holds the front door open for Tara. “You get shotgun.”
Tara chuckles quietly. “We could always sit in back together.” Tara points out, her eyes twinkling.
“Short ride, not enough time. Plus I’d have to blind Giles if he did what the cabbie did.” Buffy points out quietly, kissing Tara quickly before the Wiccan climbs into the front seat.
“I dare say I’m not even going to question what you two did.” Giles shakes his head, having to smile at the sight of Buffy joking and being so relaxed around Tara.
“Probably for the best.” Tara blushes lightly, though her eyes twinkle with mischief. “I’ll just say this, we almost ended up in an accident because the driver was paying more attention to us, than to the road.”
“Dear, Lord.” Giles shakes his head and slowly pulls out, heading towards Buffy’s home. “May I ask when you two…” Giles waves a hand around, indicating the two women.
Buffy snorts back a laugh. “Believe it or not, when we were camping during the evening when we were trailing after the demon together. Huddled around the camp fire can lead to some interesting comments, looks and truths. I think I would suggest it for everyone.”
“And in extremely cold weather.” Tara points out, chuckling at the remembrance.
“Maybe we can try out the other part of my thoughts and ideas when it’s not quite so cold.” Buffy wiggles her eyebrows at the thought, then moans as Tara pictures the two of them tangled together sweaty and passed out. “That’s the one.”
Tara laughs as she turns to look back at Buffy, the slayer’s face lightly flushed.
“How come I believe I’ve missed something?” Giles questions, frowning as he pulls up in front of Buffy’s house.
Buffy snorts as she gets out of the car. “Because you did. Do you want to come in for a few, Giles? Or do you think it would be best to head back?”
Giles sighs quietly, wanting to talk with Buffy and Tara to get the information on the demon, along with being curious about the two women, but knowing he should call the Coven and see if he can’t do some damage control with Willow and Kennedy. “I’d better head back home. I’ll call you when I find out when they can send someone.”
“Thanks, Mr. Giles.” Tara gently grasps the older man’s hand, squeezing it gently. “I’m sorry to cause all these problems.”
“My dear, I would be more than happy to have these problems a hundredfold if it meant you being here and alive. Everyone missed you, and I’d say there were some hard feelings and a lot of hurt when they thought you were gone.” Giles admits quietly.
Tara sighs, her eyes becoming glassy at the thought that she didn’t just leave Willow, but she left everyone else that she loved and cared for all those years ago. “I didn’t feel like I had any other choice.” Tara admits quietly to the Watcher.
“I dare say you didn’t.” Giles squeezes Tara’s hand back. “Go inside, take a shower and relax. You probably could use the relaxation after what happened and spending a good part of today traveling.”
“I hope she has a big tub.” Tara moans at the thought of soaking in a tub of hot water.
Giles chuckles and winks at Tara. “She does. Go on, my dear. Nothing much will probably happen until tomorrow. I dare say they won’t send someone now, with it getting late.”
“Thank you, Mr. Giles.” Tara impulsively leans in to kiss the weathered cheek. “I’ve kinda missed you, too.” Tara whispers before quickly getting out of the car and walking up the front walk to the door where Buffy’s waiting for her, the slayer having given her time to talk with Giles.
“I think you shocked him.” Buffy smiles at the sight of the Watcher continuing to sit in front of her house, a somewhat silly grin on his face.
Tara looks at Giles and laughs quietly. “That wasn’t my intention.”
“No, but you have that effect on people.” Buffy nods her head towards the open doorway. “It’s small, but it’s been perfect for me. Two bedrooms, one set up for Dawn when she comes to stay, though a lot of time she likes to stay with Giles at the large house. I think she likes the fact that a lot of time it’s busy over there with people coming and going. She’s griped at me a few times that I’ve become somewhat of a recluse.”
Tara laughs at that thought. “If you are a recluse, what would that make me?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure she’ll come up with something.” Buffy leads the way to her bedroom. “Ummm. This is my bedroom. Do you want to…” Buffy becomes shy suddenly as she stops her question, not knowing if Tara would want to share her room with her, or maybe use Dawn’s for the time being.
“I could finish that sentence in a multitude of ways, Buffy.” Tara points out softly, seeing the blush come up on Buffy’s cheeks at her comment. “But the easiest and probably the most common answer will be, yes.”
Buffy’s eyes jerk up to look into Tara’s smiling blue eyes. “You’re dangerous, and I’m going to go back to the blue balls comment here soon.” Buffy growls quietly, setting their bags on the bed. “Do you want something to drink or eat?”
“Hmmm. Something to drink would be nice. As would pointing me to the bathroom and the tub that Giles mentioned you have.” Tara grins crookedly at the slayer.
“One relaxing soak in the tub coming up.” Buffy’s eyes twinkle merrily as she thinks about the remodeling she’d had done to the small cottage, having taken the three bedroom house and made it into two bedrooms with an enlarged bathroom.
